Ring expander



y 26, 1949- N.- K. FARN'ER 2,477,446

RING EXPANDER Original Filed Sept. 8, 1944 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. N. K. FARNER ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1949 OFFICE RI NG EXPANDER Newell K. Farner, Austin, Tex. Substitute for abandoned application Serial No.

553,277, September 8, 1944. r This June 7, 1946, SerialNo. 675,067

application Claims. (01. 29-235) This invention relates to a ring expanding tool and more particularly to a tool for expanding a rubber ring or the like and placing the same on the leg of a racing pigeon or other bird for identification purposes and this application is a substitute for applicant's abandoned application Serial No. 553,277.

Heretofore devices of this nature have been complicated and consisted of several levers piv-. oted togetherresulting in a weak structure which was difiicult and expensive to manufacture with a resulting high purchase price and unreliability in use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tool for expanding a marking ringfland placing the same over the leg of a bird or other object to be marked. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide a ring expanding tool constructed of a minimumnumber of parts and which will easily and efliciently perform the function intended.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a ring expanding tool which is easily and cheaplymanufactured and which is of such construction that the tool will stand considerable abuse and still perform its intended function in an efficient manner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the various parts of the tool immediately prior to final assemv;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the tool with the expanding fingers in collapsed position;

Fig. 3, an elevational view of the tool with the ring expanding fingers in collapsed position and showing a ring about to be introduced over the fingers;

Fig. 4, an elevational view of the tool with the ring on the fingers in expanded position and showing a birds leg in position to receive the ring; and,

Fig. 5, an elevational view of the tool in collapsed position preparatory to removal of the bird's leg and with the ring applied thereto.

With continued reference to the drawings and particularly Fig. 1, there is shown a handle ID of wood, molded plastic or the like, the handle being shaped to fit the hand of the user and being formed at its inner end 12 to receive the various parts of the tool. A tapered spring steel finger I4 is secured to the top of the inner end of the handle by screws I6 and serves as one element of the three stretching jaws or fingers. The other two elements of the stretching jaws or fingers are 9 formed by two identical spring fingers l8 secured to the inner end. of the handle by screws 20 and in combination with the finger l4 provide a cone shaped ring receiving portion having three sides formed by the three spring fingers. The fingers 18 are taperedat their outer ends and these fingersv as well as the fingers M are curved inwardly at their outer ends sothat when secured to the handle the ends of the fingers come together forming substantially a point indicated at 22. The fingers [8 are provided with elongated openings 24 for reception of the screws 20, these openings. permitting the fingers IE to rock on the handle, the screws 20 providing in effect a pivot. The fingers l8 slightly rearwardly of the opening 24 are provided with an offset 26. The portions .28 of the fingers rearwardly of this offset are curved outwardly at the ends thereof to receivethe fingers of the operator and when pressed toward the handle I0 rock the fingers [8 about the screws 2|] thus moving the inner ends of these fingers apart.

With particular reference to Fig. 3, the tool is shown with the fingers I8 in collapsed position to receive a rubber or other resilient marking ring 30, the ring being introduced over the fingers l4 and I8 preparatory to expanding the same. The tool is then grasped in the hand of the operator and by exerting pressure on the handle portions 28 the fingers I8 are caused to move apart, thus stretching the ring 30 as shown in Fig. 4. While holding the fingers l8 expanded the leg 32 of a bird or other object upon which it is desired to position a ring is introduced through the ring 30 and into the space formed by the expanded fingers l8 and fixed finger l4. Either the tool or the birds leg is moved until the expanded ring is at a point adjacent that which it is intended to occupy in its final position. At this point the handle portions 28 are released allowing the ring 30 to contract at which time the ring is removed from the fingers and takes its place in the desired position on the birds leg or other object. The handle portions 28 are again depressed expanding the fingers l8 to permit removal of the tool without injuring the bird's foot 34.

From the above description, it will be seen that this tool is made up of only four parts and the necessary fastening screws, that these parts may be stamped out in a single die stamping operation and that the handle It) may be molded to construct a very cheap and easily assembled tool,

while from the above described mode of operation, it can readily be seen that the act of apscope thereof and therefore the invention is not.

limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rin expandin tool comprising a handle member, a tapered inwardly curved spring finger fixed to said handle member adjacentthefor ward end thereof, a plurality, of tapered inwardly curved spring fingers individually rockably mounted at a point intermediate the endsthere of on said handle member adjacent the forward end thereof forming with said fixed finger a generally triangular cone shaped portion for receiving a resilient ring, the rear portions of said rockably amounted: fingers being offset and curved outwardly to receive the fingers of -the operator wherebythe rear ends of the rockably mountedfingers may be pressed toward-the handle member thus moving the forward ends of said fingers apart to expand said-resilient ring sufficiently to permit the insertion of a bird's leg or the like within the ring and fingers.--

2. A ring expanding tool comprising a handle member, a tapered finger fixed to said handle member adjacent the forward'end thereof, a-p1u-- rality ofTmovable tapered fingers individually rockably mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof onsaid handle member adjacent the forward end thereof and coeperatin g 'with said fixed finger te form agenerally triangular cone shaped portion to receive and expand a resilient ring, the rear portions of said movable fingers being formedto receive the fingers of the operator thus-facilitating rocking movement of said movable fingers to expandsaid resilient ring.

3. A ring expanding tool comprising a handle member, a finger fixed to said handle member adjacent the forward end thereof, a plurality of movable fingers individually rockably mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof on said handle member adjacent the forward end thereof forming with said fixed finger a ring receiving portion, handle portions formed on said movable fingers to facilitate outward movement of the forward ends thereof whereby a resilient ring positioned on said fingers may be expanded.

.. '4. .Aring expandin tool comprising a handle member, a tapered finger fixed to said handle member, means cooperating with said fixed finger to receive and expand a resilient ring, said means comprising separate manually operable f-tapered fingers individually movably mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof on said handle member for movement toward and away from said fixed finger. v

5. A ring expanding tool comprising a handle member, a finger fixed to saidhandle member adjacent the forward end thereof, means cooperating with said fixed finger to receive and expand a resilient ring, said means comprising separate' manually operable fingers individually movably mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof on said handle member for movement toward and'away from said fixed finger:

NEWELL K. FARNER.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of 'this patents UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date:

350,721 Cooper Oct, 12, 1 886 7 1,064,404 Walker June 10,1913 nsane Ziegler Sept. 4, 1925s 7 f FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 "Country Date 12,339 Great Britain May 28, 1907 

